Compare towns
Belgrade vs Dedham vs Freeport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belgrade has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Dedham has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Belgrade | Dedham | Freeport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,351 |
1,656Lowest |
8,802Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% ME: +2.6% |
-2%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+10.9%Highest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 47.3±14.6 6% above ME |
46.5±2.2Lowest 4% above ME |
48.8±4.3Highest 9% above ME |
| Freeport and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.9 ME: 18.1% |
23.8%±3.6Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Dedham and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±6.4 ME: 22.4% |
18.7%±2.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
26.7%±4.9Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Freeport and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.1%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
49.5% ME: 36.2% |
59.6%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±3.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5%±2.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Belgrade and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,338±$13kLowest 18% above ME |
$111,442±$18kHighest 49% above ME |
$107,326±$19k 44% above ME |
| Dedham and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,200±$44kLowest 5% above ME |
$356,400±$33k 20% above ME |
$508,400±$76kHighest 71% above ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $857±$108Lowest 25% below ME |
$1,422±$607 25% above ME |
$1,439±$123Highest 26% above ME |
| Freeport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,859Lowest 6% below ME |
$3,942 30% above ME |
$5,042Highest 66% above ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±35.9 ME: 48.4% |
13%±85.3Lowest ME: 48.4% |
62%±18.9Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Freeport and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
8.5% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8% ME: 74.3% |
95.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
77.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 8 yrs newer than ME |
1983Lowest 6 yrs newer than ME |
1984 7 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
30 minHighest 22% above ME |
24 min 4% below ME |
| Work from home | 20.4%±8.6 ME: 15.9% |
9.3%±4.3Lowest ME: 15.9% |
21.2%±5.8Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Freeport and Belgrade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 133 in ME | — | #4 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | Dedham Public Schools | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Freeport High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.